CHESS M.D(multi-dimensional)

ABSTRACT

Chess like board game apparatus designed to visualize certain concepts of science, such as chemistry, physics, and math. The board game apparatus features a plurality of sub levels, which includes a black non transparent base level and four transparent sub levels, labeled one through four. Each sub level is arranged into squares of alternating colors creating a four by four row/column array. Combining the squares from all of the sub level there are sixty-four possible playing positions. Looking at the board as four sub levels, the numerical designation for the row/column square on all sub levels are equal, thus the squares corresponding to that numerical value becomes a possible playing position. The bishop, queen and king, utilizes this rule for movement around the board, while vertical height difference between sub levels creates sixteen extra squares for the knight to utilize.

CLASSIFICATIONS

-   -   A63F3/0024—Three dimensional boards     -   A63F2003/00217—Superimposed boards     -   A63F3/02—Chess similar board games     -   A63F2003/00403—Stepped boards

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is in the field of Toys and games. It is an apparatus for chess and it's variants in the third dimension.

BACKGROUND

The traditional chess board is a square board with a single horizontal playing surface consisting of sixty-four equal sized game piece position squares. Each position square is one of two possible colors which alternate along the playing surface. The chess board design has not changed significantly over the years, and according to rules, which likewise are basically the same. The complexity of chess comes from the predetermined movement patterns of the individual pieces. All moves are restricted to the horizontal X, Y plane creating a variety of potential geometric patterns.

Three dimensional chess is not a new concept, for example Raumschach (German for space chess) is one of the oldest three dimensional chess variants and has survived until present times. Herr Doktor Ferdinald Maack invented Raumschach in 1907. The most

Familiar three dimensional chess, variant is Tri Dimensional chess, which was popularized by Star Trek the television series.

Many three dimensional chess games do not successfully extend traditional chess into three dimensions. They are still planar games with multi-levels and many different rules they all lack a simple way of utilizing three dimensional movements. Additionally, another problem that arises Is that with multi-level games, there is a lot of territory to cover with the standard sixteen chess pieces. The added playing positions extends the playing time, making some three dimensional games monotonous and uninteresting.

Because of the increase of playing levels and pieces, multi-level playing boards are more complex than traditional chess, three dimensional chess requires more skill and playing experience, because of their multiple levels, and increased playing positions.

The present invention solves these and many other problems associated with prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention's primary objective is to make the game of chess more fun and exciting, by introducing basic chemistry, physics, and math principles to extend the play into three dimensions. The present invention provides a novel three dimensional game board, consisting of four sub levels having sixteen playing squares of two alternating colors displayed thereon, combining the sub levels, a total of sixty-four playing squares are available. The three dimensional game board is a multi-tier structure, sub level one through four are vertically displaced with respect to one another, and one corner from each sub level is vertically aligned with one corner of the base board level.

The present invention's primary objective is to make the game of chess more fun and exciting, by introducing basic chemistry, physics, and math to extend the play into three dimensions.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interpretation of the electron ground state in atoms as a rule for movement thereon the game board.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interpretation of quantum superposition as a rule to move thereon the game board.

Another component of the objective of the present invention is to provide an interpretation of linear transformation relationship to rotating vectors in three dimensional spaces, as a rule for movement thereon the game board.

Another objective of the present invention is to keep the number of playing levels low and by keeping the three dimensional movements of the playing pieces confined to two dimensional sub level boards.

The foregoing and other objective of the present invention, including the invention it self, maybe understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a three dimensional multi-tiered game board for playing chess. The chess board can be made from a single mold using a variety of substance such as plastic or made without a mold from wood or other materials.

The game board is made of one base board level and four sub levels, four, four by four chess boards, which are arranged at various vertical heights with respect to the base board. The game board has exactly sixty-four playing squares; the squares on each of the sub level boards are colored so that alternating squares contrast with one another. Half of the squares are clear and transparent, and the other squares are shaded with a transparent color.

The base board has at its center a small pyramid, the pyramid apex is aligned with the four sub level corners which are vertically displaced above it.

As shown in FIG. 3 the sub levels are raised above the base board on sixteen transparent rods, per sub level, the rods are located at the center of each square providing each sub level with a different height.

Location Notation

To visualize the movement of the playing pieces the game board will be shown laid out as in FIG. 2, the four, four by four sub levels are designated numbers one through four. When combined as showed in FIG. 2 the board creates an eight by eight board with sixty-four squares which can be used as playing positions. Starting from the bottom row closest to the player, the rows are labeled One through four and counting from left to right the columns are labeled one through four. Thus, the notation for referring to any squares on the four different sub levels, where the first digit is the number designating the sub level, the second digit represents the column number, and the Third digit represents the row number. The location notation 333 designates the square on sub level three, column three, and row three. The king, queen, and bishop and knight must follow specific rules in order to move around the sub levels these rules are based in the following;

Ground State of an Electron.

The ground state electron configuration is the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus of an atom within lower energy levels; electrons occupying the orbitals of varying energy levels naturally fall towards the lowest energy state or ground state. Row one with respect to the players, is considered the ground state for the king, queen, bishop, and knight. In order to use the three dimensional moves the playing piece must move off of row one.

Quantum Superposition and Virtual Particles

In quantum theory quantum particles can exist in a superposition of states at the same time and collapse down to one single state upon interaction with other particles.

In physics a virtual particles is a transient quantum fluctuation that exhibits some of the characteristics of the ordinary particle, while having its' existence limited by the uncertainty principle.

When the king, queen, or bishop move off of row one, the square location that they are resting on is related to the squares on all sub levels that share the same location notation. The pieces are in a quantum superposition state, thus the squares sharing the same location notation holds a virtual particle of the pieces.

Pieces can move around the boards from two points of view the first is a two dimensional view point, where the boards are looked at as first; an eight by eight grid, and second; as four boards each having a four by four grid setup, and each board at slightly different heights with respect to the base board level. The king, queen, knight, and bishop must first move off of row one in order to utilize the three dimensional moves, the pieces are in a ground state until they moved to a higher row.

The Knight

As shown in FIG. 8 the height location of the boards provides extra folded squares to be utilized by the knight, thus anytime the knight is located on row four, column one through four, on sub levels one through four along the border between the sub levels the heights difference is used as a square to maneuver around the board. This rule also applies when the knight is located on squares that are located on sublevel one and three column four rows two through four, or the knight is located on sub level two and four, column one, rows two through four.

The King

As shown in FIG. 6 the king must first move off of row one in order to use the sub levels as individual boards. The king can move in the normal two dimensional manners or it can use the squares on the sub levels that share a similar location notation as playing positions. If the square is occupied by an enemy's piece, then that piece can be captured.

The Queen

As shown in FIG. 7 the queen must first move off of the first row, ground state, in order to utilize the three dimensional moves on the board. The queen can move in the normal two dimensional manners or use the square's location notation to move around the sub levels. If an enemy's piece is occupying that square then the queen can capture that piece.

The Bishop

As shown in FIG. 8 the bishop must first move off of row one in order to utilize the three dimensional moves. The bishop moves diagonally across the board in two dimensional play, thus in three dimensional plays the bishop still moves diagonally across the board utilizing the sub boards that are diagonally situated. Not all sub level board location notations are available to the bishop, only the boards that are diagonal will be allowed. If an enemy's piece is on the square that the bishop wants to move to, it can capture the piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chess board.

FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of the chess board.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevation view of the chess board.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the chess board.

FIG. 5 is a right side elevation view of the chess board.

FIG. 6 shows the movement of the king, and the new three dimensional playing positions which is labeled as X1.

FIG. 7 shows the movement of the queen, and the new three dimensional playing positions which is labeled as X1.

FIG. 8 shows the movement of the knight, and the new three dimensional playing positions which is labeled as X1.

FIG. 9 shows the movement of the bishop, and the new three dimensional playing positions which is as label as X1.

NUMBERS ON FIGS. 1-5

-   1—The base board -   2—Geometric shape pyramid -   3—Sub level One-sub level playing board consisting of four squares     by four squares playing positions. -   4—Sub level Two-sub level playing board consisting of four squares     by four squares playing positions. -   5—Sub level Three-sub level playing board consisting of four squares     by four squares playing positions. -   6—Sub level Four-sub level playing board consisting of four squares     by four squares playing positions. -   7—Transparent Rods-transparent rods are attached to the center of     each square on all sub levels, sixteen rods per sub board for a     total of sixty-four rods for the chess board. Each board is at a     different height with respect to the base board, thus each group of     sixteen rods are cut to match the height different of the sub level

Possible Variation of the Game Board

Having described what I currently believe to be the best mode of carrying out my invention, I shall now describe possible variations to the game board, which is presented as an alternate embodiment of the invention. One possible variation of the game board is to place two different color LEDS into the base level, directly under each of the rods supporting the sub levels. The two different colors will be assigned to the two different color game pieces, such that when a piece is picked up off of the board to move, one of the two color LEDS will light up all of the potential playing positions squares. The LEDS will be controlled by a small micro-processor, light sensors and a power source, such as a battery. Players now have the option to play against an opponent or against the computer. Another alternative to the game is to place multiple LEDS into the pyramid found on the base board. The LEDS will light up whenever a player is check mated.

PATENT CITATIONS (9)

Publication number Priority Date Publication Date Assignee Tittle U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,040 1994-08-16 1993-10-14 Gerald, Culter Three Dimensional chess U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,252 1994-10-25 1993-11-23 Alfred, Mcphaul Three Dimensional Multi-tiered Chess U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,626A 1971-10-5 1968-08-22 Lawrence, Nolte Chess like game U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,917A 1991-16-17 1990-09-20 Leonard, M, Greene Three Dimension Chess game U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,315A 1978-11-21 1977-05-18 Chuen, K, Tung Mathematical based board game U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,476A 1996-04-30 1992-06-08 Gene W, Eplett Multi-stepped gameboard apparatus U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,537A 1979-01-09 1976-07-30 Max, Chappell Multi-level chess board U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,471A 1976-02-10 1974-08-05 Gerald R, Brennan Multiboard chess game/extra chessman U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,895A 1968-09-03 1966-01-10 Alice L, Beach Three dimensional game apparatus 

I claim:
 1. A method of playing three dimensional chess, comprising: (a) Providing a three dimensional chess board having a plurality of levels, each of said levels being divide into a base level and four sub levels, one through four, each of said sub levels being separate entity to allow vertical rearrangement and spacing alterations there between, each of said sub level being located above the base board at a some vertical distance with respect to one another, each said sub levels being supported by multiple rods, each vertical distance being related to the base board such that each sub level is positioned horizontally to the base board at a said distance, said sub level one, closest to the base board is located above the base board, to the front and right, with corner aligned to the base board corner, said sub levels, two and three, being second closest to the base board, is located above sub level one, said sub level two is located, front, left, with corner aligned to the base board corner, said sub level three, is located, above sub level one, at the same vertical distance as sub level two, back, right with corner aligned to the base board, said sub level four, is located above sub level two and three, positioned, back, left with the corner aligned with base board corner, each said sub levels being divided into sixteen squares, said squares being arranged to occupied four rows and four columns, each said square being colored with one of two different colors, said two different colors alternating between adjacent squares on each said sub levels. (b) Providing two sets of chess pieces arranged on said chess board, each said set of chess pieces comprising at least a king, a queen, a bishop, a knight, a rook and a pawn. (c) Said chess pieces begin and end the game in a horizontal position on game board. (d) Defining movement of said king, queen, and bishop as utilizing the chess board as an eight by eight grid, or as four, four by four grids. (e) Defining movements using the board as four, four by four grids, row/column co-ordinance determine square location for all four grids. (f) Said square being identified by numeric designation, said square location on all sub levels are related to one another by equal designations. (g) Said numeric designation being defined by counting row and column location of piece. Defining movement of said knight as utilizing the vertical height difference between sub levels as a square.
 2. A multi-level game board as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one geometric shape at the center of the base board.
 3. A multi-level game board as recited in claim 2, wherein said game board the geometric shape can be any of the five solid shapes.
 4. A multi-level game board, wherein said game board has at least four multi planar levels divided into a plurality of vertical spaced arranged edge to edge above the base board level.
 5. I claim the multi-level game board as recited in claim 1, the materials for the playing pieces are made of transparent and translucent plastic or glass.
 6. I claim the tabletop apparatus of the above mention claim 5, the materials for the game board and pieces can be made of various materials such as plastic, wood, glass, and metals.
 7. I claim the table top apparatus of the above mention claim 1, and the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess.
 8. I claim the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess of the above mention claim, and the numbering system used to identify, record and catalogue squares and moves in the game of CHESS M.D. 